Photo by Nitish Bhardwaj in the blogTO Flickr pool.

A massive Christmas Day fire in Yorkville has destroyed Italian restaurant Sotto Sotto, long known as a popular hangout for visiting celebrities, as well as its upstairs neighbour, Spuntini. The blaze brought more than 20 fire trucks and 80 firefighters to the Avenue Rd. building, which is reportedly at risk of collapsing. "Daylight will show us the extent of the damage, but (the building is) gone," Peter Catarino, the owner of Spuntini, told the Toronto Star, adding he was "devastated".

The cause of the blaze is not yet known; though both restaurants were closed for Christmas Day, some catering was reportedly being done in the Sotto Sotto kitchen this afternoon. The only reported injury so far is one firefighter, who was treated for minor injuries.

The extravagant Sotto Sotto was well-known as a frequent stop for visiting celebrities, particularly during TIFF, and the foyer was papered with photos of famous diners. The restaurant recently gained a boost in profile after Drake name-checked it in a verse - after he caught word of the fire, he posted a tribute to Instagram).

This fire is real bad..... #yorkville #toronto

A video posted by Karim Rajani (@karimrajani) on Dec 12, 2014 at 5:56pm PST

Photo via davinhenson on Instagram.

More than 12 months on from the Rob Ford crack tape (surely this city's video of the century) and this year's round-up of the top Toronto videos is, thankfully, a little more sedate: think impromptu national anthem singing, cute baby polar bears, and evocative skyline timelapses. The Ford family do make an appearance, however. Rob's visit to the Steak Queen restaurant and Doug's wife practicing "jude-ism" were too big to leave out.

Here are my picks for the videos worth re-watching from 2014.

Ryan Emond's Toronto Skyline Porn
We've always thought the Toronto is sexy skyline, but Ryan Emond's "Skyline Porn" video, released just last month, proves that fact. Beautifully filmed from the city's rooftops, Emond's short film includes spectacular shots of the Rogers Centre, the CN Tower, the ROM, and subway all stitched together using some seriously slick transitions. Better still, Emond's timing is impeccable. Summer storms roll in, fog skirts the lakeshore, and fireworks erupt from the roof of City Hall. Gorgeous.

A baby polar bear's first steps
Who knew the infant offspring of a terrifying arctic carnivore could be so cute (and popular)?

Maple Leafs fans finish "Star Spangled Banner"
Nothing seemed to go right for the Toronto Maple Leafs when they played the Nashville Predators earlier this season. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the team had been thoroughly butchered 9-2, their worst defeat since moving to the ACC. One highlight, however, was the crowd coming to the rescue of the national anthem singer following a microphone mishap. Video of the moment, shot by a fan, has garnered almost 5 million views.

John Oliver on Doug Ford
During the election, in an effort to prove that his brother isn't the only one capable of making gauche remarks at public events, Doug Ford made a series fumbling attempts to cosy up to Toronto's Jewish community after Rob Ford's use of the word "kike" was raised at a debate. The weird episode culminated in Doug awkwardly insisting his wife was Jewish. Cue John Oliver, master of the sarcastic put-down. "Doug Ford doesn't have a problem, he's just an asshole," he said.

The Rob Ford patois video
Filmed in January, this video of Rob Ford swearing and rambling in Jamaican patois at an Etobicoke diner suggested the mayor, who was clearly struggling with alcohol abuse, had finally hit rock bottom. However, it wasn't until audio tape of a similar encounter was released to the Toronto Sun in May that Ford agreed to enter rehab.

Bonus: The Pan Am Games promo
Sure, hosting the Pan Am Games is proving absurdly expensive (who would have guessed,) but hopefully it will at least be fun. This promo for the event suggests it will be.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

The best pizza in Scarborough is available at an array of sit-down restaurants, take-out counters and delivery operations in Toronto's east end. Find everything from authentic wood-fired pies and gourmet variations, to classic greasy slices and even some unique strictly halal options.

Here is the best pizza in Scarborough.

See also:

The Best Pizza in Toronto
The Best Pizza in Etobicoke

The top new pubs in Toronto give us plenty to say "Cheers" about - but first let me clarify the difference between a bar and a pub, so we all know exactly what it is we are celebrating. Both serve alcohol and often food, but unlike a bar, which usually has a limited menu and wider range of cocktails, wine and hard alcohol, a pub (short for "Public House") usually has a bigger, more filling menu and a focus on beers and ciders.

The pub is a long-standing British tradition, a pillar of the community. The casual atmosphere lends itself to the 'long hang', and are home to patrons young and very, very old (like scary old, like "how long have you been in this place, man?"). Toronto's new pubs are all putting their own spin on the tradition, with a couple veering closely into bar territory, but all have a homey food-focused vibe and seats filled with smiling faces.

Here are my picks for the top new pubs in Toronto for 2014.

Duggan's
Fans of Duggan's beer got a big boost this year when they relaunched their long-departed brewpub in Parkdale. Not only could you enjoy every Duggan's beer available under one roof, you could eat from a menu prepared to compliment each lager and ale.

Snakes & Lagers
If you like Snakes & Lattes, their sister board game café, you're going to love Snakes and Lagers, a board game pub where 'taking a spin' and 'getting the spins' takes on new meaning.

Louis Cifer Brew Works
Danforth drinking got a lot more action with the opening of Louis Cifer Brew Works, the latest craft beer spot to open in the area. They feature their own Louis Cifer brews alongside an impressive list of local and regional wobbly pops.

Korean Cowboy
Korean Cowboy on Eglinton is a kind of Korean/Western pub specializing in traditional Anju food - Korean small plates with a twist - plus pub favourites like wings, burritos and fries. There's a nice soju and beer selection to wash it all down.

The Contender
The Contender was a little contentious when it opened - were there really enough local sports fans to accommodate another sports pub, with Dock Ellis already on basically the same block? Now that the dust has settled on the plate, though, the neighbourhood is calling it a home run.

The Derby
Another newbie on Dundas is The Derby, which takes the classic notion of a pub up a notch. They make most everything in-house, including the tortillas for the nachos, or source ingredients locally, and their well-selected brews have something pleasing for every beer palate.

Prenup Pub
Students at U of T can always use another watering hole, and the new Prenup Pub has become the latest destination, with its long list of reasonably priced beers, crowd-friendly menu and easy ambiance.

Local Public Eatery
Toronto got its very own Local Public Eatery this past year, the first in the chain of pubs across Canada (there are locations in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat and Ottawa too). Beer and big burgers and boot glasses filled with Caesars? Yes.

Black Irish Whiskey Bar
The Black Irish Whiskey Bar and Oyster Saloon is like something you'd find the characters in Gangs of New York hanging out in - rowdy, beer- and whiskey-soaked, and full of trad grub. The big twist is all the seafood, hence the oyster saloon.

El Furniture Warehouse
Whistler favourite El Furniture Warehouse also set up shop here in Toronto this past year (with a second location just opened at Queen and John) and brought their hella-cheap prices and skater bro culture with them. $4.95 will get you anything on the menu, and beer, shooters and drinks are equally cheap. The best part is, for an additional $4.95 on your bill, they'll donate that meal to a shelter nearby.

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite new pub from 2014 in the comments.

Photo of The Contender by Jesse Milns.

Brunch in Toronto is generally a weekend affair, but luckily, a number of restaurants are happy to indulge us a day early on Boxing Day this year. Whether you're looking to keep the holiday celebrations going a little longer, or need to fuel up before hitting the madness of the mall, there are plenty of places to fill up on flapjacks and eggs first.

In no particular order, here are my top picks for Boxing Day brunch in Toronto.

Cardinal Rule
Enjoy a post-Christmas brunch at this eatery on Roncesvalles, where they'll be offering fan favourites from the lunch and brunch menu December 26 through January 4, from 11am to 5pm. Choose from favourites like the house breakfast pie, or try out a special menu feature like chocolate pancakes with candy cane whip cream.

Rose & Sons
Also offering 10 days of brunch between Boxing Day and January 4, find this diner on Dupont servicing those who won't be returning to work until the new year.

Bar Buca
Chef Rob Gentile's Italian cafe resumes regular hours of operation after Christmas, but will be serving brunch on Boxing Day between 10am and 4pm.

Cafe Boulud
From 10:30am to 3pm, the Four Seasons' restaurant will be serving up a two-course prix fixe for $42. Menu options include choices like boudin blanc with fried eggs or duck confit hash; you can opt to add-on a dessert course for $8 more.

The Hogtown Cure
Nurse your holiday hangover from 10am to 3pm at this Dundas West restaurant specializing in Canadian comfort foods.

The Steady
Vegans and non-vegans alike can indulge with doughnuts, cocktails and a caesar bat on Boxing Day at this Bloorcourt bar.

Lisa Marie
The Queen West eatery is doing brunch on Boxing Day from 11am to 5pm, and best of all, you can skip the line-ups by making a reservation via OpenTable.

CJ's Deli
The newly-opened deli inside The Court Jester will be serving brunch featuring french toast and sausage and pulled pork frittatas from 11:30am onward on December 26.

Mildred's Temple Kitchen
Another restaurant accommodating those with a little extra time off, the Liberty Village stalwart will be serving ten days of brunch commencing on Boxing Day. Choose from menu faves like ultra-fluffy blueberry pancakes or the big brunch skillet with pulled pork.

OK OK Diner
The Leslieville diner is open for brunch on Boxing Day. You can nosh on their usual roster of daytime favourites, including thick slabs of French toast and fried egg sandwiches.

Wind Up Bird Cafe
The cafe on College St. is opening for brunch only on Boxing Day, serving up clever brunch-centric twists like breakfast bibimbap from 11am to 4pm.

The Drake Cafe
Along with the launch of its annual What's In The Box music festival, the Queen West hotel will be offering a holiday brunch menu on December 26 through to the 30th.

Insomnia
Starting the regular weekend brunch menu a day early, this cafe in the Annex will be offering waffles and half a dozen types of eggs Benedict on Boxing Day from 9am to 2pm.

Caplansky's
Open Boxing Day from 10am to 8pm, the deli will offer its regular menu featuring goodies like smoked meat hash and babke french toast.

Le Petit Dejeuner
Boxing Day bunch will be served from 9am to 3pm, and you can count on the usual menu of crepes, Belgian waffles, and Benny and friends to help keep the seasonal indulgences flowing.

Did I miss any? Leave your picks for Boxing Day brunch in the comments.

Photo of Rose & Sons by Jesse Milns.

With the recent growth of craft beer in Toronto and the rest of the province and the inherent delays that come with opening a brewery, it can be tough to keep track of just when all the announced new breweries are actually opening. That said, 2015 promises to be a banner year for craft breweries in the city, as new operations arrive on the scene and old favourites expand to new digs.

Here's a list of five Toronto breweries to watch out for that will (likely) be opening
their doors next year.

Left Field Brewery
The opening of Left Field Brewery's Leslieville digs is easily the most anticipated Toronto beer event of 2015. Once the doors open, they've hinted they'll sell cans of their core brands, Eephus Oatmeal Brown, Maris Pale Ale, and 6-4-3 Double IPA, but will use their expanded capacity to brew more one-offs and experimental offerings.

Bellwoods Brewery's second location
In an effort to keep up with the growing demand for the great beer they've been making on Ossington, this year Bellwoods announced that they had acquired the former home of Hamilton Gear at 950 Dupont to build a larger production brewery. The larger space will allow Bellwoods to supply their beer to considerably more bars and restaurants.

Kensington Brewing Company
Despite its geographic ties, KBCo has thus far operated as a "contract brewery," leasing space from breweries like Wellington Brewery and Black Oak Brewery in order to brew their beer. This year they seem destined to finally actually represent their namesake 'hood when they'll open the doors on a brewery at 299 Augusta Ave.

Lansdowne Brewery
The development of the brewery at the corner of College and Lansdowne was delayed for a while as owner Jeremy Coghill negotiated with the city's committee of adjustment in order to build his brewery in the first floor of a multi-use building. Aside from a collaboration with Station Cold Brew Coffee Co., news from Lansdowne Brewery has been a bit scant but fingers crossed it will open by sometime this summer.

Rainhard Brewery
Now that the stockyards has a full blown mall, replete with a Target, Winners, and a Homesense, a craft brewery seems a welcome addition to the area for those times when you say "What the hell am I doing at a mall? Let's go get a beer." Jordan Rainhard, who has been slogging along on his 3200sq/ft brewery, event space, and tasting room hopes to open soon and will flood the neighbourhood with what he says will be really hoppy beers.

Ben Johnson also writes about beer over on Ben's Beer Blog. Follow him on twitter at @Ben_T_Johnson.

Formerly a Danforth fixture, this comedy club migrated to the west side earlier this year and opened a space that's an ideal venue to check out improv and Toronto's up and coming comedic talent.

Read my profile of the Bad Dog Comedy Theatre in the bars section.

Photo by George Socka in the blogTO Flickr pool.

It's no secret that Toronto has some of the best neighbourhoods in the world. West Queen West was recently voted one of the "coolest neighbourhoods" in the world by by Vogue Magazine, Harbord Village is deliciously over-caffeinated thanks to Sam James Coffee, and Kensington Market retains its unique character even as development pressure looms. This year, a new batch of neighbourhoods will blossom, replacing rundown storefronts and abandoned buildings with new developments, trendy restaurants and cafes.

Here are my picks for the top 5 'hoods on the rise in 2015.

Mount Dennis
The area near Weston Road and Eglinton Avenue has been transformed in recent years. With the closure of the Kodak Plant in 2005, the 23-hectare site awaits redevelopment in conjunction with the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, which itself will prove a major boon to the area. There's already an indie coffee shop in the form of Supercoffee, and the somewhat controversial Nyctophilia street light art project is slowly being accepted as a important addition to a neighbourhood in the midst of change.

Long Branch and New Toronto
South Etobicoke has always been an alluring place, given its access to the lakeshore and proximity to downtown-bound transit in the form of the 501, but these neighbourhoods are poised for a boom as development pushes west from the Humber. You have developments like the upscale Minto Townhouses and Condos and Watermark Long Branch. Long a place with decent coffee culture thanks to Fair Grounds Organic Cafe and Roastery, the arrival of a new Sense Appeal location signals an area on the upswing.

Dovercourt Village
There's many great reasons why Dovercourt Village is a neighbourhood on the rise; the first being that Dark Horse Espresso will soon open up a fifth location in the Artisan Factory building near Dupont and Dovercourt, and the second is the Bellwoods Brewery, which is on the way too. Perhaps even more importantly, Geary Avenue has quietly become a hub for artist-run live music venues, with S.H.I.B.G.B's and Geary Lane ensuring that the area's artistic character lives on.

Little India
The times they are a changin' for Little India. A chunk of the South Asian population has moved to the suburbs (think Brampton) and a new younger generation are now buying properties. The area set to get a major makeover in an effort to revitalize a streetscape that's grown tired over the last decade, but new business like Brickyard Grounds are also pitching in. More exciting is the coming of The Tree House Townhouses, one of the city's most unique real estate projects, which will touch down just east of the neighbourhood. The stacked townhouses will feature 37 cubed units separated by a courtyard, rooftop terraces and garden patios.

West Don Lands
The West Don Lands is a neighbourhood under major construction near the Don River in the city's east end. If you've never heard of it or the new Canary District, you will (a lot) in 2015. The once industrial wasteland is now the site of some exciting new projects including the central hub for the summer Pan Am Games, Corktown Common, the new community park and green space and something called a "woonerf," the city's first shared street for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. There are new developments happening at an accelerated pace including the architecturally stunning River City Condos and the Canary Park Towers.

What did I miss? What neighbourhood do you think will blossom in 2015?

Writing by Alana Charles

All this month, we're making playlists about the spirit of select Toronto neighbourhoods. Our forth playlist explores Scarborough through the ages.

Scarborough's musical history has yet to be lovingly documented in the ways that Yonge Street, Queen West, Yorkdale, and Kensington Market have been, but ask anyone who grew up here about their borough and you might be surprised by how much civic pride the area's residents have. No matter how often politicians and the media paint Scarborough as either a cold desolate wasteland (Scarberia) or a violence-plagued ghetto (Scarlem, Scareborough), the eastern suburb continues to prove that it's more vibrant and diverse than it gets credit for.

Sure, it's never really been known for its local live music scene, but many musical acts that have packed downtown clubs since the 60s grew up practicing in Scarborough garages, and Toronto hip hop definitely wouldn't be what it is now, if not for all those beats and rhymes crafted in suburban basement studios. If anything, that physical distance might be why so many visionary artists honed their unique voices out here, far removed from the fleeting musical trends that too often guide downtown acts.

Which 10 tracks would you use to celebrate Scarborough? Make your own Spotify playlist and tweet us the link, or leave it in the comments below.

Image by Aldrin Taroy

The top artists to watch in Toronto made an impression in 2014, whether at exhibitions across the city or afar, or through award wins and performances. Some are just emerging into the gallery scene while others are preparing for AGO events (or painting massive murals on Queen West), but savvy collectors, gallerists, and fans of visual arts from paintings, photography, and illustration to sculpture, installation, and performance will be keeping their eyes on these talented Toronto artists this year.

As you hermit away the winter, you'd do well to also check out Neil Harrison and Gavin Lynch at Angell, plus Dean Baldwin, Ryan Foerster, Sarah Farndon, Jen Mann, Joshua Jensen-Nagle, Julia Dickens, Chris Thomas, Rebecca Ladds, Winnie Truong, and the Toronto Printmaking Coalition.

Here are my picks for ten Toronto artists whose work can keep you going in 2015.

Jesse Harris
If the artist behind the "You've Changed" mural on Queen West isn't on your radar yet, let him be in 2015. His cartoon work was exhibited at NADA Miami Beach in 2014, and he's part of Dundas West gallery Cooper Cole's current exhibition. Catch his CC solo show later in 2015.

TALWST
TALWST (né Curtis Santiago) led a Basquiat inspired dance procession through Art Toronto's fancy gala this year that was audible even above the glasses clinking and cheques being signed. The artist, community organizer, and rap/r&b musician (he's collabed with Illangelo) crafts astounding dioramas in tiny jewelry boxes, and will be Artistic Director for the AGO's Massive Party 11 on April 23.

VSVSVS
Remember how much better Nuit Blanche was in 2013 thanks to that "1-855 Is it Art?" helpline number? That was a VSVSVS initiative (bring it back, please). You'll be able to catch the fun-loving seven member (Anthony Cooper, James Gardner, Laura Simon, Miles Stemp, Ryan Clayton, Stephen McLeod, and Wallis Cheung) artist-run centre exhibiting at Mercer Union in early summer 2015.

Abbas Ahkavan
Tehran born multi disciplinary artist Abbas Ahkavan's intriguing "site-specific ephemeral installations" are a wonder to behold. The New York Times has published his take on gardening - "Gardening is a discriminatory act... where the gardener decides what lives and what dies" - and he gets to say he has gallery representation in Dubai. Ahkavan's 2015 solo show at Mercer Union will be a must-hit.

Hudson Christie
Christie "uses little sculptures to make pictures" - pictures that have appeared in the NYT Book Review, ESPN Magazine, and Maisonneuve. His medal-winning Work-Life Balance OCAD thesis project (featured on CP24) has a unique charm and undeniable maturity (hula hooping nude model included), and future oven-baked clay paper, foam, and wood works should earn him both successful gallery shows and more high profile illustration jobs, though animation could be a natural fit as well.

Jennifer Rose Sciarrino
2014 saw digitally minded artist Jennifer Rose Sciarrino's Patterned Recognition solo exhibition at Daniel Faria Gallery, as well as appearances at the NY Art Book Fair and NADA New York. If you're a fan of psychedelic small-run fine art books, check out her 2015 - 06 - 21 - 2024 - 06 - 21 publication, available now through Art Metropole. The phenomenally beautiful work "charts the movement of the sun on the longest day of the year, June 21st, in Toronto, Canada, from the years 2015 to 2025."

Scott Waters
When he isn't titling paintings with Weakerthans or Le Tigre lyrics or drawing birds and cats, Scott Waters is obsessed with the military. The artist's backwoods-masculine voice was a memorable find at Art Toronto, and he's represented by LE Gallery.

Ash Moniz
Winner of the 2014 student Sculpture Award from the Sculptors Society of Canada, 2014 saw Moniz exhibit at Toronto's Birch Contemporary as well as in Nanjing, China, where he recently lived. Canadian Art spotted him in 2013 with Pari Nadimi Gallery's Art Toronto exhibition of his Plaster Bandages on Rubble works, and the artist has also been busy carrying 10kg in measuring weights as a carry-on through customs.

Dorian Fitzgerald
Garish and, at first, tasteless, Dorian Fitzgerald's massive paintings of excess have just enough of an edge to make them seem subversive hanging in some rich collector's condo (maybe yours?), and there's something about this that appeals to my ever-hungry cynicism. See him in 2015 at, of course, Clint Roenisch.

Danika Zandboer
Recent photo grad from OCAD U (and a stand out from their grad show), Danika Zandboer's We Are Monoliths show on heavy metal themes at Gallery 44 caught the attention of critics, music fans, and photography lovers this summer. Whether she keeps fixing her lens on subcultures or follows her interest elsewhere, Zandboer's eye is one to watch.

BONUS

Life of a Craphead
Performance art venue Double Double Land, co-run by Toronto artist Jon McCurley and home to McCurley and Amy Lam's monthly Doored shows/broadcasts, just turned five. Their Life of a Craphead project has already performed at the AGO, but they're due for a brighter hit of the spotlight this year - especially since in early 2015 they'll finally release their long awaited feature film Bugs.

See also

The top 10 art shows in Toronto for winter 2014

Who did we miss? Tell us what Toronto artists you're excited about in the comments.

Images: Abbas Ahkavan's Correspondences via his website; TALWST's The Apotheosis of Kanye West via Modern Toronto; Dorian Fitzgerald's The Dining Room of The Regina d'Italia (Stefano Gabbana's Yacht), (2008) acrylic and caulking on canvas mounted to board, 78 × 156 inches via clintroenisch.com; Jennifer Rose Sciarrino's 2015 - 06 - 21 - 2024 - 06 - 21 via her website; VS VS VS's 1-855 IS IT ART via their website; Jesse Harris' You've Changed mural via Juxtapoz/Cooper Cole; Danica Zandboer's We Are Monoliths via Gallery 44; Hudson Christie scene from Work-Life Balance via his website; Ash Moniz's "Plaster Bandages on Rubble (Nanjing, China)", photograph of installation, size variable, Pari Nadimi Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2013 via his blog; Scott Waters painting via his tumblr; Doored photo by Yuula Benivolski.

With the advent of grindr (a location-based hookup/dating app) and tinder (the straight grindr) on the social scene, more first dates are happening now than ever before. While Toronto has some great places to spend time with your new hopefully-not-a-murderer beau, there are some first date ideas that should definitely be avoided.

Here are my picks for the worst first date ideas in Toronto.

Playing the Real Escape Game Toronto
This is actually a really fun thing to do, but it's likely best not to have a first date that involves yelling frantically at your potential suitor to find an anagram for tendered husk to discover the last clue.

Hanging out at Yonge and Dundas Square
If you haven't met in real life yet, meeting at Yonge and Dundas Square is a bad idea. At best, you'll get distracted by the living statue. At worst, it will take forever to figure out which guy in the Canada Goose jacket is yours ("How can I recognize him if he doesn't have a tiger in the picture??") and you'll have a headache from bumping into teenage shoppers from Mississauga and hearing "BELIEVE!" over and over while you casually refresh your emails every thirty seconds.

Having dinner at The Sultan's Tent
This tourist-central restaurant is overpriced, underwhelming and the prixe fixe menu is a nightmare for first daters who aren't sure of food allergies (and yes, she'll have some). Plus, the belly dancers' sassy moves could make one of you feel insecure and need to overcompensate ("Sure, she's gorgeous, an amazing dancer and incredibly sexy, but did she write a Lives Lived that was published in the actual, for-real paper?? Uh yeah, I didn't think so").

Going to a Munk Debate
Not only is sitting quietly next to someone a bad way to get to know them, but if you don't see eye to eye on Obama's foreign policy, the walk home is going to be awkward. Better to save this idea for when you're on board with each others' conspiracy theories.

Visiting America at the Trump Hotel
After Chris Nuttall-Smith's shade-throwing piece on America went viral, Trump's America was elevated to Toronto's douchebag headquarters (while Earl's quietly rejoiced). Unless you're Greg and looking for the next Julie, stay away.

Taking a Crossfit class
Do you want to be yelled at on a date? Do you want to be humiliated in front of someone you are trying to impress? Do you want to be called names and made to do things that would make your ancestors shake their heads in pity all while trying to seem sexually appealing to someone? Do you want this in a non-BDSM way? No. Nobody wants this.

Attending a taping of Steven and Chris
Their loving relationship and enviable life can and will make you depressed if the date starts off slowly. Plus, your nana will have televised evidence of your night out and will ask, to no end, if things didn't work out because you dress like Opie Griffith.

Grabbing a drink at the Chill Ice Lounge
If you're the type of person who wants to spend top dollar to hang out inside a giant freezer, you should probably not bring that up until at least the fifth date.

Going to a psychic
As a carefree youth, I once went to a psychic as a fun date activity. The psychic read my palm and loudly stated, in front of my very religious and socially conservative date, that not only would I not find love, but I would have several abortions in the process. We didn't see each other again.

Patronizing The Brass Rail
No.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for the worst first date ideas in Toronto in the comments.

Photo of America

The top albums and EPs released by Toronto artists in 2014 jump from the city's punk revival to its shadowy gutter synth scene. While many of the usual subjects are absent and it's refreshing to see so many emerging acts and new names behind the year's most impressive releases, we couldn't get by without one reunion.

If none of these strike your fancy, you'd do well to also check out 2014 releases by Toronto acts Austra, Zones, Bespoken, Nadja, Owen Pallett, Majid Jordan, Trust, WTCHS, Slowpitch, Black Walls, Bry Webb, Wolfcow, Man Made Hill, Fucked Up, Tre Mission, Alpha Strategy, James Clark Institute, Champion Lover, Teenanger, Cold Specks, Jerry Leger and the Situation, Most People, Jennifer Castle, Northumbria, Odonis Odonis, Century Palm, Sarah Burton, The OBGM's, Shahman, and Sarin.

Here are our picks for 2014's best releases by Toronto bands and artists.

Death From Above 1979 - The Physical World
10 years between albums. 10 years. And yet The Physical World picks up right on the heels of You're A Woman, I'm A Machine. Some shrugged their shoulders at more of the same, but looking back at the decade between, no one filled the stripped-down, aggressive dance punk niche they carved, so what's wrong with picking up where they left off? Seeing them live confirmed that it wasn't just studio magic - they're back. MF

Valery Gore - Idols in the Dark Heart
Challenging the boundaries of chamber pop, Valery Gore combined her classical influences and experimental tendencies on her stunning third album. While many of the songs are based around Valery's crystal clear emotive voice and piano, additions like metallic beats and noise create a broad sonic palette. The lyrics are consistently smart and evocative, especially on songs like "Character Girls, Quiet Guys" and "July," the latter adding a playful dose of jazz into the mix. Her vocal acrobatics and spare arrangements make closing track "S.O." a sweet ending. DB

Comet Control - Comet Control
I was super-disappointed when I heard that psych-rock visionaries Quest For Fire were calling it quits in 2013. Long a fan of their guitar-heavy explorations I felt as though Toronto was being robbed of their mushroom-induced magic. The wake didn't last long as though, as Comet Control soon took up the mission with a similar trajectory and phase pedals on stun. Their debut was a highlight to my year, with Chad Ross and Andrew Moszynski's guitar interplay laying spacial groundwork for Ross' otherworldly vocal melodies. ESP

Alvvays - Alvvays
Alvvays' self-titled debut doesn't set out to break new ground, but it felt like a rush of fresh air amongst the indie offerings of the year. Bands who traffic in vintage jangle-pop rarely have the songwriting skills to stand out from the pack, but Molly Rankin and co. proved themselves adept with instant earworms like "Next of Kin" and "Archie, Marry Me." Alvvays is hazy summer music done right. SK

Thantifaxath - Sacred White Noise
Toronto isn't exactly known for its black metal scene, so you'd be forgiven if you thought Thantifaxath's Sacred White Noise was some ungodly Norwegian creation. But though it was birthed in our own backyard, doom-obsessed Europeans would readily approve. It's a dark, hellish masterpiece that's somehow both archaic and progressive in sound, and pulls off the metal holy grail of balancing technical virtuosity with powerful songwriting. SK

Babe Rainbow - Falling Apart
Pressing play on this deceptively minimal album again, I remembered why I enjoyed it so much when it dropped. Cameron Reed has a disarmingly simple approach to electronic production, but the music plays between easy and engaging repeat listens. Babe Rainbow's drive to create discomfort through layered beats and melodies is less at the forefront than earlier releases, but tracks like "My Friends, I Remember" still play with dread. Wake up to this sleeper and enjoy with an avocado.

Absolutely Free - Absolutely Free
If patience were an instrument, Absolutely Free have reached Shankir-levels. After two celebrated EP's (2012's U.F.O./Glass Tassle and 2013's On A Beach/Clothed Woman, Sitting), the build up for the LP was well-rewarded. Single "Beneath The Air" sounds like Neu! jamming with The Sea And Cake, and introduces us to a selection of sunny Krautrock grooves that sink into your pleasure centres. Absolutely Free wafts through the room like the smell of fresh cookies, with a lingering elation that suggests some special ingredient. CG

Bile Sister - Faucet
Between 2012's Octant Brim and 2014's Faucet, synth queen and former Wolfcow member Julia Reich has come a long way. The cassette is bent up, danceable lo-fi that never takes itself too seriously yet manages to ride the magic edge between sexy and menacing, and it's taking the city's scuzz pop scene to further into the foggy gothic territory first scouted by The Pink Noise and U.S. Girls.

Doomsquad - Kalaboogie
While their name suggests goth samba, the three siblings of Doomsquad operate on a whole other plane, mixing ethereal vocals, trance-like drums, and alien guitars. "Waka Waka" follows the Cocteau Twins tradition of silly song names while dropping a seriously heavy groove. Final track "Ovoo" (inspired by Drake?) offers a solid distillation of Doomsquad's skills. The auspicious debut is a worthy addition to the roster of Hand Drawn Dracula, and it's definitely an album to get lost in. DB

Greys - If Anything
This year's big contribution to Toronto's grunge revival movement, If Anything is a satisfying, skillful execution of planned chaos - just when you think the whole thing's going to fall apart in a distortion-filled heap, some insanely catchy hook cuts through the noise to pull it together. Yes, the In Utero influence and Fugazi nods are obvious, but a band that kicks their album off with the tune "Guy Picciotto" obviously isn't trying to hide it. SK

The top 5 Toronto EPs of 2014

Pick a Piper / Squalloscope / Love Cult
Drone/dance duo Love Cult's stellar Full of Nothing label, based in the northern city of Petrozavodsk, Russia, hooked up with Squalloscope (Austria) and Toronto threesome Pick A Piper to produce collaborative and solo tracks on this surprising, continent-jumping five song release. The resulting electronic EP, while way below the radar, is a gorgeous listen that shouldn't be overlooked.

Weaves - Weaves
Initially I thought I was applying the word "unhinged" to Buzz Records because of their love of all things noisy. But Weaves throws a wrench into that. Or do they? A youthful exuberance runs through their veins - a need to break every rule in the playbook and still come out with the hooks (or barbs) in tact. Singer Jasmyn Burke first captured my attention while fronting short-lived Rattail, but Weaves match it with incredible musicianship (see tracks like "Motorcycle"). Big things are coming for this band. ESP

Stacey - Stacey (Reconstruction)
Remix EPs were a minor trend this year (Weaves did it too), and while there's a stigma attached to the five letter word, few releases were as addicting as Reconstruction, YDID's electronic re-imagining of Stacey's 2013 self titled. Melancholic production soaks around lyrics of nostalgia and longing - it would be too sugary-sweet except for the hint of some sinister understanding. I don't want to make promises to Lana Del Rey fans, but I don't want to keep secrets here, either.

Vierance - Semblance
Kensington Market's gutter goth crew launched Toronto's newest label (or is it? I try to keep up) DETH Records with Semblance earlier this year. Old darkwave sounds meet with newer ideas in electronic production: at its worst this EP sounds like Crystal Castles blissing out on special K and re-recording Disintegration - and that's at its worst. A must-listen for fans of fog machines or Glass Candy.

Hermans - Zaires
The final Z O D I A C 4 4 release of twelve, techno duo Hermans' (Jerry Riggs and Maxwell Church) Zaires features a Basic Soul Unit remix, and the duo take house to a demonic place. When the clock strikes twelve on midnight, rely spooky Hermans disc to exorcize twelve months of bad vibes and bring on the golden age of good weird.

The top 5 Toronto compilations of 2014

• The Many Moods of Healing Power Records (Healing Power)
• Psych Pop 2 (Optical Sounds)
• Deth Vol. 1 (Deth Records)
• Bedroomer Vol. 1 (Bedroomer)
• CD Punk Revolution Vol. 3 (Offerings Magazine)

See also

The top 10 Toronto music videos of 2014
The top 10 breakout bands from Toronto in 2014
The top 10 concerts in Toronto during 2014
The top 10 dance parties in Toronto during 2014

What did we miss? Leave your favourite Toronto releases of 2014 in the comments.

Contributions by Evan Sue-Ping, Shazia Khan, Colin Gillespie, Matt Forsythe, Dorian Barton.

Note: While Colin Gillespie is a member of Greys, he did not contribute to their appearance on this list.

Photo by Matt Forsythe

This bao shop already boasts a location near OCAD, and now this newest expansion is bringing its menu of steamed buns, dumplings and sticky quinoa to the corner of Queen and Bathurst. Most of the menu is priced at under $5 a la carte, and can be freshly assembled in just seconds. Highlights include the surprisingly sweet pork dumplings and the apple slaw-topped pulled pork.

Read my profile of the Bathurst location of Mean Bao in the restaurants section.

Photo by Oscar Tosso in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Free events in Toronto this week take into account your massive (but tragically under-estimated) NYE budget - or total, utter lack of one. The city's got a lot to offer for your future hangover disaster of a body, including a refreshing swim, live music, a comedy festival, free art, and video games galore.

Here's how to celebrate another year hovering above the gutter in Toronto this week.

1. Zacht Automaat & U.S. Girls (Dec 29, Double Double Land)
Not strictly free, this is an amazing bill for PWYC if you want to discover new psych music on a Monday night. Minimalist krautrock-inspired Zacht Automaat is releasing a new album, and the always divine Meg Remy aka U.S. Girls will perform solo.

2. New Year's Eve (Dec 31, Nathan Phillips Square)
Alright, you don't have to splurge on NYE parties or stay home - TTC is free all night, so you can plan some family friendly fun counting down with John Tory (and DJs, and street performers) at City Hall. Look out for our upcoming fireworks round up.

3. 10th annual Toronto Polar Bear Dip (Jan 1, Sunnyside Beach)
Polar Bear swims are a one-a-year tradition on January 1, and the mad dash into frigid Lake Ontario at Sunnyside should cure your hangover, snow or no snow. Show up for 11am and for heaven's sake don't forget to bring a towel. All proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity.

4. Nintendo Knights Presents: Handlebar's Hangover Helper (Jan 1, Handlebar)
Handlebar is inviting you to wear your PJs (but please not last night's filthy clothes) to play video games and geek out in Kensinton Market. Roll out of bed to be there at 5:30pm, then watch a screening of The Wizard (1989) at 8pm before more video game mania. There will be coffee.

5. Festival of New Formats (Jan 1-5, Comedy Bar)
This free multi-day festival at Comedy Bar will have you laughing your way into the new year. The shows start on Thursday night and carry on over the weekend to Monday - check out some of the line ups here.

BONUS: Free Art

6. Take Home a Piece of Clare Twomey: Piece by Piece (Jan 4, Gardiner Museum)
If you've been admiring Clare Twomey 2,000 piece installation of dainty figurines at the Gardiner, this is your chance to the artists' work home - for free. You're going to have to spend your Christmas cash on admission, but this could stand as your best chance to be a fancy art collector on a shoestring budget this year.

Also check out these regular free events

Elvis Mondays (Mondays, The Drake)
Toronto's longest running indie showcase, William New's free show has put thousands of bands on stage. It's at the Drake Underground every Monday.

Free Nights at the Horseshoe (Monday/Tuesday, The Horseshoe)
The Legendary Horseshoe has a storied history, and hosts free indie rock shows in the early week with Shoeless Mondays and Dave Bookman's Nu Music Night on Tuesdays.

CINSSU's Free Friday Films (Fridays)
Though the Innis Town Hall is still under construction, you can follow the Cinema Studies Student Union for reliable Friday night movies and solid picks at Isabel Bader Theatre and/or Alumni Hall 100.

Canadian Opera Company (Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre)
September through to early June, catch free classical shows at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts "most Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon, and some Wednesdays at noon or 5:30 p.m."

MOCCA (Monday - Sunday)
While nearly all art galleries in the city are free to enter, it's worth noting The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) is always PWYC.

Have a free event you'd like to plug? Submit it using this form.

Photo by Christian Bobak

From fashion companies to restaurant chains, a slew of Canadian and international brands added Toronto to their list of home bases this year. Now, we're reaping all the benefits, which include, but are not limited to, the following: Better menswear shopping, celebrity-endorsed cheeseburgers, stylish home goods, deals on cute shoes, and shots of booze served on a ski.

Here are my picks for the top chains that came to Toronto in 2014.

Muji
A worldwide cult favourite, the Japanese chain settled in at Yonge and Dundas last month to a flurry of excitement (and massive lines of eager shoppers). Torontonians are already stocking up on their striped tees, their travel bottles, their unbleached paper notebooks...

Loding
This French chain, beloved by dapper gentlemen the world over, landed in Yorkville this spring and spread to the PATH this fall. Their stores are stocked with luxurious, guesswork-free basics for men, with prices that never budge.

DSW
Ever wanted to get lost in a sea of shoes? The closest you can get is this U.S. discount chain, which set up shop in Mississauga (at the Heartland Centre) and Newmarket (near the Upper Canada Mall) this year.

Suitsupply
It was a banner year for menswear in Toronto, thanks in part to this clothing chain, which hails from Holland. At their Yorkville store, you can find modern suits and well-cut basics offset with quirky accessories.

Inglot
It's round two in Toronto for this Polish makeup chain, which came and went in the city before returning to Dundas Square over the summer. Head down to stock up on holographic lipgloss and a water-permeable nail polish.

El Furniture Warehouse
This Whistler-born bar chain could have chosen no better neighbourhood to settle in Toronto than the Annex, where the everything-for-$5 menu and ski shooters have been a hit with local students. Their latest move has seen them open a sister spot on Queen West.

Oak + Fort
This Vancouver-based clothing company's streamlined, airy pieces are a perfect fit for Toronto. After starting out with a Shops at Don Mills location and a downtown pop-up, they've expanded into Square One in Mississauga and a permanent home on Queen West.

Frank & Oak
The Montreal menswear brand is pushing westward, adding a Queen West store to their growing empire. If you're not in the market for refined, reasonably-priced basics like sweats and merino V-necks, you can get an espresso at their cafe or a shave in their barbershop.

Local Public Eatery
We love a good Caesar here in Toronto, and this cross-Canadian chain (which serves 'em in a boot-shaped glass) fit right in when it moved to Liberty Village this year. (Another strong selling point: Guacamole freshly mixed table side.)

Wahlburgers
The Toronto of 2013 was sorely lacking in burger joints run by a family of celebrities. Fortunately, the Wahlbergs swooped in and saved us with a Toronto outpost of their combination fast-food and sportsbar chain, based out of the SoHo Hotel Metropolitan.

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite chain that arrived in Toronto in 2014 in the comments.

Photo of Oak + Fort by Jesse Milns.

2014 was another big year for Toronto news. The El Mocambo was saved from closure, we found out that Jilly's is going to return as a boutique hotel, and the city was lashed with wild wind, rain, and snow. Rob Ford mounted his re-election bid only to be forced to drop out after being diagnosed with cancer, the new streetcars hit the road on Spadina, and Jian Ghomeshi's house of cards finally collapsed.

Oh, and let's not forget about the "sex act" on the King streetcar and the horny insect invasion.

Here are 10 (not entirely serious) headlines we'd like to see in 2015.

Last call is pushed back to 4am
No fun Toronto finally catches up with Montreal and New York in embracing late night bar culture. Most bars try it out for the few months until it becomes clear that it only makes financial sense at the busiest places on the busiest nights. Six months later, no one complains anymore.

Beer to be sold in convenience stores
Following an expose in the Toronto Star earlier this month, it seems the Beer Store's bizarre monopoly might finally be on shaky ground. The Wynne government doesn't seem keen on allowing the sale of booze in grocery and convenience stores, but here's hoping the new year brings meaningful change that benefits the long-suffering beer drinkers of Ontario, not overseas corporations.

In-N-Out Burger comes to Toronto
Sure, Toronto has its own spectacular burger selection, but the phenomenon that is In-N-Out Burger would no doubt find a loyal following north of the border. Since there are no outlets this side of Little Rock, this one looks unlikely to become a reality.

Food truck bylaws get another overhaul
Food truck rules were last changed this year, but there are still tight restrictions on mobile eats. Trucks can't be parked within 50 metres of an open restaurant, remain in one spot longer than three hours, or be clustered more than two to a block. Time to loosen up a little in 2015.

Ranked ballots coming to Toronto
Ranked ballots produce demonstrably fairer election results. Under the current first-past-the-post system, a candidate who wins just 5 percent of the vote could conceivably be elected (this year, Councillor Christin Carmichael Greb was elected with 17.4 percent of the vote in Ward 16.) Ranked ballots eliminate vote splitting, reduce strategic voting, and provide additional choice. Let's do it.

White squirrel adopts baby raccoon in Trinity-Bellwoods Park
Two icons of Toronto together at last. Doc series in the works.

The Honest Ed's sign finds a home before crisis ensues
The iconic bargain retailer at Bloor and Bathurst is set to close, and that sign is going to need a home before anyone who cares about Toronto history is up in arms about its demise. Wouldn't it be nice if David Mirvish figured out how to preserve this thing before it sounds like it's going to disappear?

Downtown Relief Line gets fast-tracked
The Yonge line (sorry, Line 1) has been a nightmare for decades and even assuming that the relief subway is delivered to the current schedule, it will be closer to 2030 before anyone gets a chance to ride it. Time to find a way to speed this up.

The Buffalo Bills move to Toronto
They don't love you like we love you.

The Raptors win the NBA Championship
With the best record in the Eastern conference, the Dinos make We the North proud. Kyle Lowry is league MVP. Lou Williams wins sixth man of the year. Could happen.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Zoe and Daniel /blogTO Flickr pool.

Hockey arenas in Toronto come in no short supply, with hundreds scattered across all areas of the city. Many of these rinks are strictly utilitarian in nature -- just a pad of ice, a few change rooms and a small bleacher area. If you're lucky, there will be a concession stand that sells watery hot chocolate, steamed hot dogs and Halls lozenges. There are, however, hockey arenas that stick out from the pack, whether on account of their facilities or their historic importance.

Here are my picks for the top hockey arenas in Toronto.

CanLan Ice Sports
With six ice surfaces, a well-stocked pro shop and an on-site pub (The Flying Penguin), the sprawling CanLan facility is a hub for everything from men's league to house league. York University's varsity team also plays out of the arena, and Toronto-based NHL players holding out of contracts have been known to skate here. There is also a facility in Scarborough.

Mattamy Athletic Centre (MLG)
It might not be the Maple Leaf Gardens of old, but the cathedral ceiling retains the stature of the old rink even as the facilities have been modernized. Playing here feels more important than elsewhere. You can also watch Ryerson Rams games here if you're not up for renting the ice at $335 for an hour.

North Toronto Arena
While there's only one ice surface and the concession stand is anything but appetizing, North Toronto has great ice, ample space in the stands, and a throwback announcer's booth that gives the place a certain stature. Add to that the nostalgia factor that any kid who once played there has, and you have one of Toronto's favourite barns.

MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence
You might not be able to hit the ice at the ACC, but you can still play where the Leafs practice at this state of the art hockey facility in Etobicoke. With four ice surfaces (one of which can be expanded to Olympic dimensions), a solid pro shop, and a variety of concessions, this is both a good place to play and to bide your time while someone else does. Add to that the possibility of running into an NHL player or a member of the Canadian Junior team, and you've got an exciting arena.

Ted Reeve
Opened in 1954 after a major fundraising effort on the part of east side residents, Ted Reeve has always kept the feel of a community arena. You won't find OHL teams playing here, but the daily schedule is packed with house league games, pleasure skating (Saturday evenings), and use by the Ted Reeve Thunder, single and double A GTHL teams who call the arena home.

St. Michael's Arena
Another one for the history lover, anyone who's played under St. Mike's domed roof will remember the experience. The Majors no longer play here, but the list of world class players who have graced this ice is a long one, including stars like Eric Lindros, Jason Spezza, and Tyler Seguin.

Varsity Arena
This is a great old barn. Tucked away behind Varsity Stadium, the arena is almost 90 years old. With seating for 4,000 and a great retro score clock, it's a fun place to play or to watch your girlfriend/boyfriend duke it out in intramurals. The Varsity Blues also call the arena home.

Chesswood
Chesswood Arena occupies a middle spot between modern hockey facility and nostalgia-inducing old barn. There are two rinks here, an on-site bar, decent food (try the old school fries), and a pro shop, but everything feels just dated enough to make it feel like you've walked into a time warp. A hub for adult leagues, the arena is a more intimate alternative to the larger CanLan facility.

Weston Lions Club Arena
At 65 years old, the Weston Lions Club Arena won't be winning any awards for its facilities, but the church-like wooden roof, and the thickly painted red and blue stands are the very stuff of Canadian hockey nostalgia. As an added bonus, the rink has great ice.

The Sports Village
Technically just north of Toronto in Vaughan, the Sports Village is worth a mention for its four ice pads, on-site pub, video games (perfect when two kids of different ages are playing on the same day) and outdoor beach volleyball facilities in the summer. Along with the Mastercard Centre for Hockey Excellence, the Sports Village sets the gold standard for the modern hockey multiplex.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for Toronto's best hockey arenas in the comments.

Photo by Adam d'Oliveira